VICTORY! British Superbikes 9th October 2011
We had an AMAZING day at Brands Hatch, Sunday 9th October for the closing rounds of the British Superbike championship. The weather was gorgeous, the races were very exciting, and the guys and girls at Swan Yamaha looked after us extremely well.
The Swan Yamaha team were definitely celebrating after Tommy Hill secured a maiden MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship title with a sensational performance in the final race of the year to beat title rival John Hopkins to the line by just 0.006 seconds. The second place meant that Hill was crowned champion with a two point advantage at the end of the season.
Hill had missed out on a podium in the second race with a fourth place and just two points separated him from title rival Hopkins ahead of the last race of the year. In the final race the pair swapped places five times on the final lap, which would decide the outcome of the title. Hill narrowly crossed the line ahead to secure second and with it a maiden championship title for the team.
Michael Laverty was caught out by the drying conditions in the second race but in the season finale he was embroiled in the fight for the final podium positions before ending the race in fifth place. Laverty ended the season fourth in the standings for the Swan Yamaha team.
Hill said: "I am gobsmacked to have won the title for Swan Yamaha; this has been my goal and I was trying to stay as relaxed as possible in that final race. The season has put a lot of pressure on everyone and that reflects on everyone. We have been regularly finishing in the top three and that has therefore been the benchmark and the whole of the Swan Yamaha team have been working so hard all year to make this possible. It has just been a complete shock for me and I feel like we should be having another race next weekend now! It wasn't until the other riders started congratulating me that I even realised I had won as it was so close between myself and Hopper.
"It has been a long hard season and it came down to that one race. Everyone wanted a Showdown and that is what we have given them; it really was make or break time and I knew I had to do everything possible to beat Hopper. I knew Michael (Laverty) was behind me, but then when I knew it was Josh (Brookes) I had to just go for it. Coming across the line we didn't know who had finished second and with it the title. At the moment I feel like I need someone to punch me or something to bring me back to reality. I just want to go out and race again now! I just want to celebrate now with my family, friends and the whole of the Swan Yamaha team and I need to thank everyone for their support this season."
Laverty said: "Today has been a great result for the Swan Yamaha team and congratulations have to go to Tommy for winning the title. I rode my hardest to try and protect him and the rest of the hard work he did himself. There is a lot of satisfaction for the team tonight but at the same time I am disappointed that we were not able to come away as the champion. We have been fast all season long and we showed again yesterday with the win that we have the pace. It has been a great year and I need to thank the Swan Yamaha team for all their support."
Team Owner Shaun Muir concluded: "We delivered everything we set out to achieve at the start of the season although we have made life difficult along the way! It didn't start the best for Tommy this weekend but he couldn't have done more in that race. Big thanks also have to go to Michael for his support in the final race as he did a great job of acting as Tommy's wingman. We want to take this opportunity to thank all of our sponsors, partners and supporters who have made this possible."
Many thanks to the hospitality team, we all had a great time.
Photos by Andy Robinson. Check out our Facebook page as we add more great shots from the weekend.
September 11th Donnington Park
The opening race of the day saw both Swan Yamaha riders in an epic dice for the first victory of the Showdown. Laverty had taken the early lead in the first race before Shane Byrne stole the position on the third lap. Laverty then dropped to third as Hill moved ahead but with four riders switching places after Hill made a move on Byrne at Goddards it gave Laverty the chance to take the lead. Laverty then maintained his position until the final threea laps when John Hopkins edged ahead and Laverty and Hill completed a double podium performance in second and third respectively.
The second race almost ended prematurely for Laverty when he collided with Byrne at Redgate on the opening lap and as the pair ended in the gravel he then had to pick up the Swan Yamaha to try and salvage some points. He was able to finish in 14th position and set the fastest lap of the race in the process. Hill had taken the lead on the opening laps but was passed by Hopkins and despite his best efforts finished in second place to put him three points behind in the overall standings.
Hill said: "I was gutted with the first race result today despite finishing on the podium as we just didn't have the speed. The Swan Yamaha team changed the engine between races to see exactly what the problem was and how we could fix it for race two. We got into a rhythm over the opening laps and then the pace dropped off and I knew the guys behind us were closing in. I knew we had to do something so I made a lunge from about six bike lengths back and I didn't quite make it. In the second race I saw Michael make a brave move when he dived for the apex. I just let them carry on as I knew what would happen. I settled down into a rhythm and John Hopkins came passed me and there wasn't much I could do. It hasn't been the worst weekend for me with two podiums but we needed wins and we need to change that at Silverstone."
Laverty said: "I was happy to be on the podium again in the first race. I got to the front but to be honest I was surprised when Shakey came passed me as I wasn't sure he would have the pace after the way the weekend had gone for him. I let him run the pace and then I knew I had to get my finger out and make a move to get back in the lead. I passed Shakey with the melee at Goddards but then it was all a bit busy as we went into Redgate! I was on the outside but then I saw John Hopkins went for the same line so I took a chance on the inside and it paid off. I held John off for a few laps but I didn't want to do something risky and end up in the gravel; there will be fairing bashing to come but I didn't want to risk it in the first Showdown race! I was feeling confident for the second race and I wanted to get to the front as soon as possible. Shakey had done the same move in race one and we went for the apex but he hadn't seen me. It is frustrating but it was a racing incident. It will be an uphill task now but we knew we had the pace which makes it even more disappointing. The pressure is slightly off me now as I can just try for wins rather than being too conservative but anything can still happen and I will fight until the bitter end for the title."